Ok, I’ll elaborate. When I set the parcel on the countertop, I smelled blueberry. When I opened the shipment of 5 items + 2 samples, I smelled blueberry. I dug through the box until I located the small packet labelled blueberry and made it IMMEDIATELY. With a fragrance like that, how could you not? I dumped the whole 1/2oz packet into the finum filter and brewed 1 liter. Wish I had not got the water so hot, but nevertheless… I select a bone china mug with blue forget-me-nots on it, because this tea requires something blue. The liquid is even blue—in the purple way that blueberries are.

And then the sip. slightly astringent—my fault. I did not do any research before boiling, I just jumped in with both feet as soon as that fragrance hit my nostrils.

Second sip. Must say, NONE repeat—NONE of that hideous fake blueberry flavoring. I have a few blueberry plants in the yard, I pick them every July. I know what a blueberry smells like and this is the real deal. This is a beautiful cup I would serve to guests in a heartbeat, and know for a fact they’d still be talking about it tomorrow. HA.

I just love my camelia. Even if I hate a certain kind of tea, I still find it’s provenance interesting. The cultural aspects are every bit as fascinating as the flavor aspects, or maybe more so. Empires have been built and bankrupted over the humble tea leaf.

Becomming cynical about tea companies that are too hyped. Certain tea companies that use candy in their blend, certain tea companies that give away free tea for reviews posted all over the internet with links back to their store. Once someone has posted that kind of review, I tend to discredit their objectivity. I’m no longer interested in reading their reviews. sorry.

FYI—female—married— to a coffee drinker (but he is willing to try my exotic teas, bless him)